Q:
How speculative are shovel headed worms when it derive to kill earthworms ? I ’ve found a few late and dislike them — even the chickens are freaked out about them ! I understand that they are some character of Din Land flatworm in the Planaria family and are invasive . They look like some kind of alien as they skim their head word back and forth over the priming coat . This was the largest at almost 1 foot long.—Mike Hilbig , HobbyFarms.com reader
A:
Based on the photo you pass on , Mike , you ’ve identify this worm correctly . It ’s one of the four or five invading solid ground planarian species now found in different corners of the United States . Many of these mintage were introduced into North America and Europe from Asia through the horticultural swap and arrived hidden in the soil of potted tropical plant . Over the last century or so , several of these land flatworm species have institute procreation populations in the southeastern United States and California , and they ’re go around quite rapidly where circumstance are favorable to their survival of the fittest . Martin LaBar / Flickr
The planarian worm you ’ve come in contact with is likelyBipalium kewensewhich is the most common land species found in the Southeast . This unusual creature has many common name , such as the hammerhead dirt ball , shovel headed worm or arrowhead worm , due to its unique devotee - mould “ head”—though this is more of an appendage than a oral sex because it does n’t take the mouth ( which is actually near the middle the body ) or eyes ( as land planarians in reality do n’t have true eye ) .
Interestingly , while acres planarians can procreate by laying bollock , their primary mode of replica is through a process have it away as fragmentation or budding , where the worms come away a composition of their tail that will grow into a fresh insect .
As you suggest , these strange - looking invasive worm can get quite large , with grownup worms reach near a invertebrate foot in length when they stretch out during their crawling motivity . Land planariums are covered with a level of mucus on their modest half , allowing them to transverse a variety of rough surfaces and leaving a glint slime trail like to that of snails or slugs . These creatures are primarily active during the evening and night hours to avoid the daytime passion which can desiccate them .
Unlike your friendly night crawlers , land planarian species are predators and provender on a numeral of prey , let in snails , various dirt ball larva , slugs and angleworm . The species image ( Bipalium kewense ) does primarily feed on earthworms . Where heavy concentrations of these terra firma planarian are detect , there can be a detectable fall inearthwormpopulations . That being said , many entomologists do n’t believe that the mien of these longsighted vile worms of necessity signalise the ending of wiggler , as both species seem to be able to coexist in some form of proportionality .
Martin LaBar/Flickr
